Home Maintenance Tips that can save you Thousands of Dollars

You could be losing thousands of dollars by letting your home age faster that it should.  Here's a simple maintenance strategy to keep your home young.

Many homeowners don't realize that their out-of-shape house is older than its years and could lose 10% of its appraised value, says Mack Strickland, an appraiser and real estate agent in Chester, VA.  That's a $15,000-$20,000 adjustment for the average home.

I love in a Historic neighborhood called Grandview Heights which is a few streets from Flamingo Park and both are in the Historic District in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Grandview Heights was established in 1910 and most homes in the neighborhood were completed by 1925.  I do come across a lot of these historic homes that have not been maintained well, so the amount of renovation or repair is a huge amount.

But good maintenance can add value.  A study out of the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University find that regular maintenance increases the value of a home by about 1% each year.

So if you've been deferring maintenance, or just need a good strategy to stay on top of it, here's the simplest way to keep your home in good health.

Focus on Your Home's #1 Enemy - MOISTURE

If you focus on nothing else, focus on moisture - your home's No.1 enemy, especially in South Florida.  Water can destroy the integrity of your foundation, roof, walls, floors - your home's entire structure.  So a leaky gutter isn't just annoying, it's compromising your foundation.

Keeping moisture at bay will improve your home's effective age - "real age" and it protects its value.  Here's your easy 4 step routine.

Follow This Easy 4-Step Routine

1. When it rains, actively pay attention.  Are your gutters overflowing?

2. After heavy rains do an inspection for spot damage or leaks.

3.  Set a time of year to check watering systems for leaks along with water related appliances, such as refrigerator, filters, water heater and the HVAC (condensation in your HVAC can cause leaks).

4. Repair any damage and address any issues and leaks ASAP.   I see so many homes that could have saved thousands of dollars with a little caulk in the bathtub.  Trust me, it will be the cheaper, easier fix if you repair those items right away.

For more tips on maintaining your home or my list of what you need to do to prepare your home to sell, call or email me!

Tracie Whillock

(561) 376.0985

Realty Associates